6 Simple Ways to Plan a Cheap Road Trip

Planning a perfect road trip can be a daunting task especially if you are operating on a tight budget. Mapping your detours, meals, and stops can be overwhelming. However, with a little bit of creativity, planning a cheap trip does not have to be difficult. Before you hit the road, you should take into consideration the following trip tips if you want to make sure that the road trip is pocket-friendly.

1. Shop Around For Hotel Deals

Even though some people usually like to keep their plans loose when they are traveling, it is a good idea to book your hotels or accommodations before you hit the road. Just because it is a road trip does not mean that you will not need accommodation. While driving around may be fun, you may need to stop somewhere and have some rest or a proper meal. You cannot assume that you will be doing all that in your vehicle.

When you shop around for hotel deals ahead of time, you will have enough time to explore various options so as to determine which ones are most suitable to your budget. But if you decide to go on the trip without looking for a hotel, and then, later on, decide that you would like to sleep or eat at a hotel, you will be forced to settle for whatever you will find at the next exit. This may end up costing you a lot of money.

2. Figure Out Where You Want To Go

This is another important cheap trip tip that can help you spend less when you go on a road trip. When you know where you want to go to ahead of time, it will be easier for you to master the easiest routes to reach there, what you need to carry along, and other important details that will make the trip a success. If you start the road trip blindly without having a clear idea of where your destination is, you may end up getting lost on the way, and this means that you will spend more on gas and fuel.

Finding information on where you are going is very simple. You simply need to go to your favorite search engine and then type in the name of that place plus keywords such as vacation or tourism. By doing so, you will get ideas on how to reach that place using the shortest route. You will also know the average temperatures of the place in advance, something that will help you know which kind of attire to bring on the road trip.

3. Carry Your Own Food

This is one of the trip tips that will help you save a considerable amount of money on your road trip. Before leaving your home, you should purchase a cooler and stock it up with foods and drinks that you can take while traveling.

This is because the foods in most vacation destinations are priced higher than normal, so you will be able to save some money by bringing your own food. You will also eat healthier by avoiding unhealthy foods along the way.

4. Take Your Vehicle For A Tune-Up

This is a cheap trip tip that you do not want to ignore if you want to have a smooth journey. Taking your vehicle for a checkup before embarking on the road trip will help you to avoid car trouble in unfamiliar places.

It will also help you to save some money on gas. Be sure to take your vehicle in for an oil change and make sure that tires, wiper blades, air filters and fluid levels are inspected properly. Even though you cannot predict a roadside breakdown, some maintenance on the vehicle can help prevent it.

5. Bring Your Friends

Traveling with your friends is one of the trip tips that can help you save a good amount of money on your road trip. You will be able to save a lot of money on gas if you use the same vehicle with your friends and split the cost.

Additionally, some state and national parks usually charge an entrance fee per car, meaning that you will be able to save even more money if you travel as a group. You can also save more money by sharing accommodation and splitting the cost.

6. Look For Budget-Friendly Activities

Besides planning ahead and being creative when you are going on a road trip, another cheap trip tip that will help you save more money is finding budget-friendly activities.

There are state and national parks that usually waive on admission. Another budget-friendly option is beaches. The beaches also make a great setting for taking the foods and drinks you brought along.